Air lift or control for heating systems



Oct. 24, 1939. c. w. MOQUAID 2,177,220

ATR LIFT 0R CONTROL FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1937- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 24, 1939. c. w. MCQUAID 2,177,220

AIR LIFT OR CONTROL FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE AIR LIFT 0R CONTROL FOR HEATING SYSTEMS 4 Claims.

The object of my invention is generally to provide an air lift or control unit. which is a combination furnace booster blower for winter use and an air conditioning plant for summer use.

It is my purpose to provide a structure including a blower and a motor for operating it. This blower with its associated parts is particularly adapted for use and is designed for small furnaces, such as those used in fiveor six-room houses.

It is my purpose to provide such a structure which will take air from the return or cold air passages and deliver the air back to the air ducts of the furnace under pressure.

It is particularly my object to provide in such a structure, in addition to the parts already mentioned, a peculiarly constructed valve arranged to be interposed into the path of travel of the cold or return air and functioning to operate when the blower is idle so as to permit the regular flow of air as in a gravity system and also to operate automatically when the blower is working to afford flow of air from the cold or return air duct to the blower and thence back to the furnace.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a structure which is extremely simple and economical to build and has few moving parts.

Still another purpose of my invention is to provide in such a structure a simple and inexpensive humidity providing and controlling means.

An additional object is to provide a device so constructed that it may be installed as a part of the furnace structure originally or may be assembled in connection with the furnace structure after the original installation of the furnace with a minimum interference with the furnace parts.

Another object is to provide an arrangement including a specially constructed drawer or air flow control member so built and mounted that it may be removed and turned over and reinserted for controlling the flow of air for Winter or summer use of the device.

With these and. other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a furnace with my improved air lift or control assembled in proper association therewith.

Figure 2 is a top or .plan viewofthe same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a part of the air lift or control unit, parts being shown in section and parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable drawer or air direction control device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a different kind of valve intended for cooperation with the cold air duct.

Figure 7 is a top or plan view of a modified form of the duct returning from my apparatus to the furnace, the furnace casing wall being shown in section.

Figure 8 is a top or plan View partly in section of a slightly different type of installation.

Figure 9 is a detailed, sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a detailed, sectional view taken on the line l0-l0 of Figure 9.

I shall describe my air control device in the form of a uni-t which can be conveniently added to a heating system already installed, but it will be understood that by proper and simple modifications my unit can be included in the original assembly.

In the drawings herewith, I have used the reference numeral it to indicate generally a furnace which has the pipes ll for conducting hot air to the various rooms of a house. In the form here shown, it has two air return ducts l2 which discharge into the jacket Illa. My device when involved in a unit which can be installed with any furnace may include the base I l. As here shown, this base is mounted on upright bolts 15 which are set in the concrete floor it and have the cushioning springs ll between the base and the floor.

On the base I 4 is mounted an electric motor [8 used to operate the fan l9, in a fan casing 20.

A duct 2| is used for the passage of air from the fan casing to the lower part of the furnace jacket Mia. The duct 2| is connected with the fan casing by a flexible sleeve 22 which serves to prevent the transmission of noise and vibration.

Arranged adjacent the fan casing 20 and to discharge into the fan casing is an air chamber 23. Extending upwardly from the fan chamber 23 are short duct members 24 which are connected by flexible cushioning sleeves 22 with ducts 25, which extend toward the return air ducts [2. One of the important features of my invention is the valve at the intake end of each of the ducts 25. This valve structure includes a tubular casing member 26, particularly shown in Figures 1, 2

and 4 and connected at one end with one of the ducts 25 and communicating at the other end with the interior of one of the ducts I2.

011 the inside of the duct l2 a casing 26 has side walls 26a and an end wall 26b, but has no top and bottom.

Pivoted on a transverse axis as at 21 is avalve or damper member 28 which extends away from its pivot line in opposite directions.

When the valve 28 is in substantially horizontal position, one end of it closes the bottom part of the casing 26 inside the duct I2. the valve has a weight 29 which normally tends to draw it downwardly so that the other end will close the opening into the outer half of the valve casing 25 as shown by dotted lines in Figure 4. The casing 26 has a stop 35 to limit the movement of the valve in one direction.

Normally, therefore, the valve stands in its.

dotted line position of Figure 4, where it serves to prevent any fiow of air from the return air duct 12 into the duct 25.

When the fan I9 is operated to pull air through the ducts 25, and chamber 23, a partial vacuum is created in the ducts 25 and the pressure on what is then the upper part of the valve 28 causes the valve to swing from its substantially vertical dotted position of Figure 4 to its horizontal position shown in that figure. Thereby the intake ends of the duct 25 are opened and air can be drawn from the return ducts through the fan and returned to the furnace for thus boosting the movement of the air or giving it a forced rather than a gravity circulation.

This arrangement has certain important advantages. By simply turning the motor on or off the system can be changed from a gravity air feed to a pressure or forced air feed, or changed back to a gravity feed.

The valve 28 operates automatically so that when the blower is not in operation, the system operates on the gravity feed principle in the ordinary way just as though my unit were not in existence. That portion of the valve casing 25 which projects into the return air duct l2 interferes to a minimum degree with the ordinary air fiow.

It is obvious that the casing 26 can be easily connected with the duct 25 no difference what the length of the duct 25 may be and also that the casing 26 may be easily installed with relation to the duct l2.

In Figures 6, '7, 8, 9 and 10 I have shown an installation of one of my forced circulation units which involves modification of several features of the device as hereinafter described. 7

In the form of my device shown in the figures now under consideration the base I 4, the motor IS, the fan casing 25 and the air chamber 23 are similar to those already described. In the form of my device shown in these figures, instead of the duct 2i, I provide branching ducts 45 which extend to opposite sides of the furnace casing l0 and preferably project into the lower parts of the ducts l2 adjacent to where such ducts communicate with the bottom part of the furnace casing l0.

At the discharge end of each duct 40 there is mounted a larger pipe section 4! which may have an upturned discharge end 42 in the casing 10 as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The pipe section 4|, which I might call an injector pipe, is mounted on the duct 38 by means of set screws 43. By discharging the ducts 49 into the pipe 4|, additional air is drawn into the pipe 4| from the This end of into the furnace.

duct l2 for thus further increasing the booster effect of the device. The pipe 4! may be rested upon a bracket support 44 where that is necessary.

In Figure 6 I have shown a little different form of the member which projects into the return air duct l2. A rectangular duct member 45 is connected to the duct 40 and is projected into the duct l2 at the lower end thereof and close to the casing I0, as for instance at the discharge end of the right hand duct 40 in Figure 8.

At the inner end of the duct 45 is pivotally hung a valve 46. What might be called the back wall of the duct 45 being the wall farthest from the furnace, projects beyond the valve 46, forming the extension 47 shown in Figure 6. Likewise the bottom of the duct as at 48 projects beyond the valve 46 and at the far ends of the wall 4'! and bottom 48 is a vertical wall member 49. The bottom portion 48 extends away from the wall 47 and beyond the duct 45 and is upwardly curved as indicated at 50 for guiding the air.

In the use of this form of discharge end for the duct 49 the duct 45 is connected to the end of the duct 40 and projected into the lower part of the duct l2 with the portion 56 directed toward the interior of the casing H].

The valve 46 prevents any back flow. Then when the fan is operating the air raises the valve 45 to its dotted line position, shown in Figure 6, where it engages the stop flange 5! so as to form with the portions 41, 48 and 49 a four sided compartment from which air passes out along the member 50. This is a convenient, simple and inexpensive form of discharge duct.

Figure 7 shows, instead of the duct 2|, a discharge duct 52 which projects into the furnace casing IE] and it divides into two ducts, inclined slightly away from each other and open at their tops as indicated at 53 and 54.

This arrangement is preferable in some instances for directing the forced air properly back I do not consider it as efficient in some cases, however, as the arrangement shown in Figure 8.

Humidifier In Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have shown a humidifier arrangement which I have found to be eflicient. A supply tank 54ais arranged on the base I4. A pipe 55 leads from the top of the tank 54a and discharges into a valve casing 56 which has a bell shaped discharge end 51. A vent 54b is provided in the top of the tank 54a. The tank is partly filled with water 540. A valve 58 controls Control device for summer operation For changing the device and adapting it for summer operation, I have provided a very simple means, which I have called an air control drawer 60. It has a front wall 60a, a bottom wall 601) and side walls 600. On the outside is a handle 6|. It is inserted into the chamber 23 as shown in Figure 3. It has a deflecting wall 62 which, when the parts are in position for winter use, as

illustrated by full lines in Figure 3, is curved from the upper edge of the front wall, downwardly and inwardly to the rear edge of the bottom wall. This wall 62 extends from end to end of the drawer. The deflecting wall 62 tends to guide and deflect the air from the upper part of the chamber 23 to the intake opening 63 of the fan casing 20.

Where it is desired to operate the unit for summer cooling, the drawer fill is removed and turned over, whereupon the deflecting wall 62 will have the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3.

Below the chamber 23 is a water pan 65 which may be supplied with cold water when the device is used for summer cooling. A deflector cover 66 may be used for covering the projecting portion of the pan 63 and guiding the air that may be drawn into the system when the drawer 60 is in its position for summer use.

Operation The operation of this device has already been in part explained and will be largely obvious from the description.

It may be said, however, that when the device is used during winter heating operations that it may be turned on or off as desired. When the fan is not running, the heating system operates in the ordinary way and my unit does not interfere with the gravity operation.

When the motor is turned on, I have found that a steady air pressure is built up in the,

furnace whereby there is insured a steady flow of warm air to all registers and also a circulation of air in all return air ducts, which are connected with the fan.

I have also found that with such an arrangement it is much easier than would otherwise be the case to maintain a uniform temperature in the rooms.

'Iests show that a substantial fuel saving is accomplished by the use of my booster unit. Frequently it is not necessary to carry as heavy a fire as would otherwise be necessary. This is due to the fact that the fan tends to maintain a steady and gentle flow of air through the system sufiicient to carry the air well into the rooms but not strong enough to cool the furnace down. It is obvious that the use of too powerful a blower must be avoided in order to accomplish the last mentioned result.

Furthermore, with a system of this kind, the desired heat may be secured in the house in the mornings much more quickly and with less fuel than where such a system is not used. At all times when heat is needed quickly, it is obvious that by turning on the blower the warm air accumulated in the furnace casing can be quickly distributed to the rooms of the house.

I find that with such a system the number of firings is reduced. Especially in mild weather the saving in fuel is noticeable.

I desire to call attention to the simplicity of structure of the device now under consideration.

No interference with the electric wiring system of the house is necessary in installing one of these units. The motor can be operated from any ordinary lamp socket. I may use a conveniently located wall switch for controlling the supply of current to the motor.

It is obvious that the device can be operated by ordinary controls, such as thermostats, furnacestats or the like.

It will be understood that during summer use the cool air from the basement can be forced into the upper part of the house according to the wish of the householder.

Changes may be made in the details of structure and arrangement of parts as is obvious from the modifications shown and it is my desire to cover by my claims any modifications or differences in the use of materials which may be reasonably included within the scope of my invention and my claims. Sometimes herein, I use the word booster as applied to the fan.

I claim:

1. In a heating system having a furnace with an air chamber and an air return passage leading thereto, a booster fan passage leading from the return passage to the air chamber, a fan in the booster fan passage, and a valve for controlling air flow from the air return passage to the booster fan passage, normally closed, to prevent flow through the booster fan passage when the system is operating as a gravity system, and adapted to open when the fan operates, whereby when the fan is not operating, the gravity operation is not interfered with and when the fan is operating, any air in the return passage drawn through the booster fan passage may follow the ordinary path of gravity operation and additional adjustable means whereby fiow of air from the booster fan passage to the fan may be cut off and air flow from another source to the fan permitted.

2. In a device of the class described, designed for installation in a warm air heating system having a heater and a duct for conducting air to the zone of the heater, a fan casing, means for conducting air from the fan and fan casing to the zone of the heater, means including a special chamber for conducting air from said duct to the fan casing, said special chamber having an opening on one side communicating with the fan casing, and having a second opening at its opposite side and a third opening at one end, means for conducting air from said duct to the other end of the special chamber, and a removable air deflecting member adapted to be inserted into the chamber at said second opening, said removable air defiecting member having a deflecting wall for closing said third opening, and being adapted to be removed, turned over and reinserted into the special chamber to cause said reflecting wall to then close the end of the chamber opposite said first mentioned end.

3. In a device of the class described, designed for installation in a warm air heating system having a heater and a duct for conducting air to the zone of the heater, a fan casing, means for conducting air from the fan and fan casing to the zone of the heater, means including a special chamber for conducting air from said duct to the fan casing, said special chamber having an opening on one side communicating with the fan casing, and having a second opening at its opposite side and a third opening at one end, means for conducting air from said duct to the other end of the special chamber, and a removable air defiecting member, adapted to be inserted into the chamber at said second opening to close the second and third openings, and being adapted to be removed, turned over and reinserted to close the second opening and to close said other end of the chamber.

4. In a device of the class described, designed for installation in a warm air heating system having a heater and a duct for conducting air to the zone of the heater, a fan casing, means for conducting air from the fan and fan casing to the 75 zone of the heater, means including a special chamber for conducting air from said duct to the 'fan casing, said special chamber having an opening on one side communicating with the fan casing, and having a second opening at its opposite side and a third opening at one end, means for conducting air from said duct to the other end of the special chamber, and a removable air defleeting member, adapted to be inserted into the 10 chamber at said second opening to close the sec 0nd and third openings and being adapted to be removed, turned over and reinserted to close the second opening and to close said other end of the chamber, and a water container adjacent said first end for holding Water where air may take up vapor therefrom when passing into said special chamber when the removable air deflecting member is in its second mentioned position.

CHARLES W. MCQUAID. 

